Crafts Policies in the UK

This chapter describes the context for craft in the UK, outlining how successive government policies are impacting on the conditions for craft, including the craft economy. The chapter explores the characteristics of the UK craft sector, analysing the policy and regulatory frameworks within which the sector operates and the impact of those levers. The chapter goes on to assess issues raised by Britain’s exit from the European Union and the opportunities and threats this shift offers. It also considers the effectiveness of measures to sustain the craft economy, addressing the role of the education and training system in supporting the talent pipeline of makers entering craft careers and reflecting on the extent to which the current approach meets the skills’ needs of future makers. In addition, it takes into account the impact of infrastructure and regeneration policies and how property market conditions impact on the supply of studio space. The chapter concludes by making recommendations for how the policy framework might improve the conditions for craft in order to sustain the current wave of interest in craft.